Tower of the Hand

Davos is in a cell beneath Dragonstone. When he first arrived, he was gravely ill, but Maester Pylos came to tend to him, and he is now much stronger. He is tended by two gaolers, one who brings his morning meal and another who brings the evening meal. They will not give their names, so Davos has named them Lamprey and Porridge. Melisandre comes to see him. Davos tells her that he wants no part of her since the horror she birthed at Storm's End; he says it was a creature of darkness. Melisandre counters that shadows are created by light, but states that Stannis's life force is too weak for her to make more shadows. She asks Davos if he will embrace R'hllor, and he responds that he wants nothing to do with the god. She explains that all is black and white, ice and fire, good and evil, and that a war has been raging since the dawn of time between R'hllor, the Lord of Light, the Heart of Fire, the God of Flame and Shadow, and the Great Other whose name may not be spoken, the Lord of Darkness, the Soul of Ice, the God of Night and Terror. All men must choose where to stand in this war, and Melisandre asks Davos where he stands. Davos replies that he is not sure, and Melisandre tells him it is good he told the truth, for she would have known if he lied. Davos asks how he was caught, and Melisandre replies that she saw his purpose in her flames. She states that Stannis is R'hllor's chosen champion and that she has seen him in the flames leading the fight against the dark. She also quotes prophesy which states that "When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to raise dragons out of stone." She believes Dragonstone to be the place of smoke and salt.¹ Melisandre leaves Davos to ponder what she has told him.

Roughly three days later, Ser Axell brings a new prisoner to join him, Lord Alester Florent. Davos asks him if there is any word of survivors from Fury since Alester's nephew, Ser Imry, commanded the ship, and Alester says it went down with all hands including Ser Imry and Davos's son Maric. He says the war is hopeless and most of Stannis's lords are gone. Lord Ardrian was captured and swore fealty to the Iron Throne, Lord Monford died on the Blackwater, Lord Guncer was burned by Melisandre, and Lord Duram is a fat, feeble boy of fifteen. Lord Alester explains that he penned a letter for Lord Tywin offering that Stannis give up his claim to the throne, renounce his claim about Joffrey's parentage, and wed Shireen to Tommen in exchange for being confirmed as lord of Dragonstone and Storm's End. Lord Alester would have done the same for Brightwater Keep. Since Stannis has been closeted with Melisandre and speaking to no one and Lord Alester had access to the king's seal, he prepared to send the letter without permission. He mentions talk of a stone dragon and mentions failed attempts to raise a dragon such as Aerion Brightfire, the nine mages, the alchemists, and Summerhall.² Alester begins to weep.